Voice activated system and method to enable a computer user working in a first graphical application window to display and control on-screen help, internet, and other information content in a second graphical application window

ABSTRACT

A system is disclosed for navigating the display of content in a windowed computing environment, the system comprising a computing device comprising a voice recognition engine, a first window and a second window, wherein the second window comprises at least one hyperlink linked to additional content. A user command receiver receives a voice command from a user while the user is working in the first window, and in response to the voice command follows the hyperlink in the second window while the user remains in productive control of the first window, wherein following the hyperlink in the second window causes the additional content to be displayed in the second window.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/100,155 Filed on Apr. 9, 2008 which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/775,587 Filed on Feb. 9, 2004 the specificationof which is incorporated herein by reference.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of provision patent application No.60/446,261 filed Feb. 10, 2003.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH: OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern computer systems are often equipped with speech recognitiontechnology. In a typical system, a computer user opens a graphicalapplication window and starts typing or dictating input such as text,numerical information or drawing. In order to ensure accuracy, the useroften starts organizing information and checking the facts. The user mayopen files on his or her computer or perform searches on the Internet,read and page through the information obtained, and follow relevantlinks by clicking on them. As the computer user writes the document, heor she will toggle between the various graphical windows and pagethrough them, trying to find and check information. While working, theuser may also refer to the help provided by his or her application toassist in formatting the work.

However, as the user opens other application windows, the first orprimary graphical application window becomes partially or totallyobscured by one or more other application windows that the computer userlater opens. The user may use the mouse or other pointing device toposition and size some or all of these application windows, but everytime he or she opens another application it needs to be resized. Tryingto view and copy and paste the information content from various filesinto a working application window often becomes awkward and frustratingas each window obscures other windows.

Another issue with current windowing systems is that the user mustexplicitly switch the “input focus.” A window is said to have “focus”when it is active and currently designated to receive the user inputfrom the keyboard, mouse, or from a voice recognition system. A computeruser must switch back and forth between the first application window andthe other application windows, in order to control or manipulate theactivity or screen displayed in any graphical application window.Whether switching the focus is achieved manually (e.g., by keyboard ormouse) or by oral command, switching focus back and forth is a nuisanceand easily creates frustration for the user.

For example, suppose a user has his or her primary graphical applicationwindow and a second application window displayed simultaneously on acomputer screen, each in a separate window, with input focus in thefirst application window. When the user needs to page down in a secondapplication window's displayed text, the user typically must move themouse cursor to the second application window's display, click the mouseto move input focus, press the page down key, move the mouse cursor backto the original location in the first application window, and finallyclick the mouse to restore the input focus. This requires four conscioussteps requiring some dexterity to perform smoothly, thereby interruptingthe user's attention. It is also very common for the user to forget tomove input focus back to the first application window until reminded bythe failure of the first application to respond to new keyboard input,causing frustration and lost time.

Another source of frustration and difficulty in modern graphic userinterfaces (GUIs) is overlapping windows. Overlapping windows result inthe obstruction of a user's view of his or her primary graphicalapplication window, and the loss of focus and attention to the firstwindow application are issues that continue to plague prior art. Manymethods have been developed to address these difficulties. For instance,U.S Pat. No. 5,715,415 (the '415 patent) provides users with “automatictiling” and retention of focus in the application as the user clicksinto their built-in help systems. However, the '415 patent is limited toworking only with help systems, with window panes, and with built-inhelp systems. The '415 patent additionally shares another weakness withother help systems. Virtually all modern help systems provide hyperlinksto web pages, so that their users can find more complete and recentinformation. Typically, as soon as a computer user clicks on a hyperlinkto access the web, an internet application window such as Microsoft'sInternet Explorer opens, partially or totally obscuring the user's firstapplication and causes the user to lose focus from his or her graphicalapplication window.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0130,895 (the '895 patent application)partially solves this problem by simultaneously displaying portions of aweb page next to help information the user requested. However, the '895patent application only works with help information and still causes theuser to lose focus from his or her first application. The user is againconfronted with the inconsistencies and frustrations pursuant to theshifting of computer focus between first application and content. Theseproblems are exacerbated by the frequency with which the user needs toclick into the Internet application to follow links.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,486 (the '486 patent) provides an alternativeapproach that provides help content via visual help or aural speech. Ifthe user requests help via aural speech, the '486 patent makes itpossible for the computer user to receive help while simultaneouslyviewing his or her first application window. A limitation with the '486patent approach is that aural speech simply disappears after beingspoken and must be remembered by the user. The '486 patent has theadditional limitation that help for complex situations is much harder tounderstand and often fail to result in a useful action when receivedaurally, compared to being arrayed on a display screen. The '486 patentdoes not provide a method to prevent the user from losing focus everytime the user needs to click a hypertext link to play back the requestedhelp. Also, the '486 patent does allow a user to view help as well ashear it, but, when the help is displayed visually, the '486 patentoffers no method to prevent the user's primary application from beingobstructed by the help displayed. The '486 patent is further limitedsince it only works with help systems.

Typical prior art voice recognition technology merely substitutes voicecommands for keyboard and mouse commands and has not solved these issuesof focus and obstruction of the computer user's view of his or her firstapplication, often making it more difficult for a user to control his orher application windows by voice than by using a mouse or keyboard.Specifically, if a computer user of voice recognition software wants todisplay a help system window, Internet application window or otherinformation content next to his or her working application window sothat the windows don't obscure each other's content, the user would haveto individually position and size each window by issuing many voicecommands to grab the borders of the windows and move and drag them byvoice.

A user of prior art voice recognition software working an applicationwindow needs to issue three or four commands to follow links in asecondary graphical application window displaying Internet or othercontent. For example:

First, the user would say, “Switch to next window” and the voicerecognition engine will cause the windowing system to switch to the nextwindow.

Second, the user would say, “Products” and the voice recognition enginewill cause the Html application window to follow any link that is named“Products” or has “products” in its name, e.g., “New Products.” But, ifthere are two or more links on a displayed page that contain the spokenname, the speech recognition product will number or otherwise uniquelyidentify the links, forcing the user to issue another command toidentify the link he/she wants, for instance:

Third, the user would say, “Choose two.” As an alterative to these lasttwo commands, at least one current voice product allows a user to issuea command to number all the links on a displayed page and then thenumber of the link desired.

And fourth, the user would say, “Switch to next window” and the computeruser will be returned to his or her first application window.

Similarly, if a user of prior art voice recognition software wants toswitch to another open application on his or her desktop to copy textinto the user's first application, it takes at least 5 commands. Forinstance:

First, the user would say, “Switch to Internet Explorer” and the voicerecognition engine might cause the windowing system to switch to thenext window. But it may not. Switching between windows by voice isproblematic with prior art voice recognition systems when there are manyapplication windows open on the desktop. If there are several copies ofInternet Explorer open, the computer user needs to dictate, “Switch to”followed by the exact name of the document e.g., “United States Patentand Trademark Office Home Page.” But, how is the user expected to saythe name of the document when the user won't be able to see it becausethe document names are partially or completely hidden on the taskbarwhen several application windows are open.)

Second, the user would dictate, “Select united through page,” and thiswould cause the voice recognition system to select text on the page.

Third, the user would dictate, “Copy that.”

Fourth, the user would say, “Switch to Previous Window” and the computeruser will be returned to his or her first application window.

And fifth, the user would dictate, “Paste that” and the previouslycopied text would be pasted at the cursor position.

Prior art voice recognition help systems also use traditional help withhide/show panes, and search indexes. Thus, they share the weaknesses ofother prior art: they cover up part or all of the computer user'sapplication windows, they force the user to switch focus back and forthbetween the help system and his or her application, and they force thecomputer user to go through a labyrinth of menus and submenus. Forexample, to access help about formatting the user needs to follow thesesteps:

Dictate “What can I say?” or Press “F1”

Dictate or click “Show”

Dictate or type in the word(s) to search for: “format text”

Dictate or click “Select topic”

Dictate “Move down 15” (or more realistically dictate, “Move down 20,then “Move up 5”) to move the cursor down 15 lines.

Dictate or click “Hide”

Dictate “Switch to Next Window” (to return to his or her originalapplication) or click on the original application

What is needed is system that overcomes these shortcomings of the priorart.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the foregoing difficulties and teachesand enhanced system with additional capabilities. The present inventioncreates new systems and methods for using existing voice recognitiontechnology and existing graphical interface technology which isapplicable to computer systems including personal computers,workstations and PDAs.

The present invention provides voice activated methods and techniques toenable a computer user working in a graphical application window (a“first” application) to display and retrieve on-screen help, internet,tutorial, e-book, and other information content in another graphicalapplication window (a “second” application). The present inventionexecutes the retrieval of the content specified, re-sizes andrepositions, if desired, both the user's displayed first applicationwindow and the retrieved second window side-by-side automatically, suchthat the application windows and content displayed each appear in aseparate window with no overlapping of the second window over the firstapplication window, nor of the first application window over the secondwindow. The invention maintains or quickly returns the user's inputfocus and/or mouse position to the user's original position in the firstapplication window.

The present invention provides a suite of pre-set and interactive voicecommands that permit users to manipulate a second graphical applicationwindow and the text and/or other information that is displayed in thesecond window, such as by scrolling such information up and down,enlarging or diminishing the second window, printing the content, orcopying specified text from the second window, while remaining inproductive control of his or her first application window,automatically, with minimal interruption by the process of requesting,receiving the content, and/or controlling the second application.

This invention brings many advantages over existing technology. Helpsystems accessed through this invention appear positioned adjacent to aworking application to assist a user with context specific,step-by-step, instructions, thus making the help appear integrated intothe application from which it was called. Additionally, when help isaccessed through this invention, the focus is not shifted from theapplication to the help provided, but instead remains with theapplication. Thus, the user can perform the instructions provided by thehelp without having to remember to switch back to the application windowto return focus before proceeding.

Similarly, when Web pages, e-books and other information content areaccessed through this invention, the focus is not shifted from theapplication to the content provided, but instead remains with theapplication. The user can read the content provided by the e-book orother material, can page or scroll through it, can copy and paste fromit, and can take notes from it without having to switch back and forthbetween the content and his or her working application countless times.

Specifically, the present invention enables a computer user to performthe following functions in a second graphical application window whileremaining in productive control of his or her primary graphicalapplication window:

Operate and control by voice a help system that provides one commandaccess to all help topics;

Operate and control an internet browser by voice;

View and manipulate data in second application windows;

Copy data to user's active application from second application windows.

Access, control content, and follow links in tutorials, demonstrations,help files, html content, and other information located either on auser's computer, on a computer network, or on the World Wide Web;

Operate and control by voice a graphical application window displaying ahelp system or other content that automatically sizes the graphicalapplication window to optimally display its content and simultaneouslyresize the user's primary graphical application window to tile side byside with this graphical window, if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 (prior art) is a representative screen display of a prior arthelp system with its auto-tiling feature turned on. The link in the helpdocument referred user to a web site.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a computer executing a computerapplication according to an example implementation of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of the interrelationships between the parts of theprogram.

FIG. 4 is a representative screen display of a computer's users desktopafter invoking the invention.

FIG. 5 is a representative screen display of a computer's users desktopafter invoking the invention with automatic resizing turned on and withmouse being returned to original position.

FIG. 6 is a representative screen display of a computer's users desktopbefore invoking the invention.

FIG. 7 is a representative screen display of a computer's users desktopafter invoking the invention. The newly opened web page is resized nextto the user's application, the hyperlinks on the page are identified andfocus returns to the user's application.

FIG. 8 is a representative screen display of a computer's users desktopafter following a hyperlink. Focus is returned to the user'sapplication, allowing user to keep following hyperlinks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, generally, provides a speech interface giving acomputer user increased access to, control of, and usability of onlinehelp, and other types of information content. First, a description ofthe computer hardware and software requirements is provided. Next, thebasic windowing concepts used by the invention is described. Next, abrief description about voice recognition command files is provided. Andlast, the preferred embodiment is described in detail.

The present invention shall be described with respect to a Windows basedoperating system and ScanSoft's Dragon NaturallySpeaking product.However, the invention as disclosed herein is not so limited. Instead,the invention can be used with most voice recognition systems, includingIBM ViaVoice, Microsoft Speak and with SDK's available from most vendorsof speech recognition engines. The invention is designed to operate withany one of several commercially available operating systems, whichincorporate a graphical user interface. In this embodiment, the DragonNaturallySpeaking scripting language is used as is the WinBatch editorcompiler. Several other programming languages, including “C”, VisualBasic may be used.

Virtually all help systems provide hyperlinks to web pages, so thattheir users can find more complete and recent information. As FIG. 1illustrates, in a typical prior art environment, as soon as a computeruser clicks on a hyperlink to access the web, an Internet applicationwindow (e.g., Internet Explorer 1) opens, partially or totally obscuringthe user's first application 2 and causes the user to lose focus fromhis/her graphical application window.

FIG. 2 illustrates generally the environment utilizing the presentinvention. In FIG. 2, the invention is described within the illustratedcontext of a familiar desktop computer. An example computer 10 includesa Pentium IV-equivalent microprocessor with at least two hundred andfifty-six or more megabytes of RAM. This example computer is capable ofrunning a multitasking operating system with a graphical user interfacewindowing environment. However, aspects of this invention might also beemployed in other forms of computing devices such as laptop computers,hand held computers, portable personal information managers (PIMs), andthe like. In these devices, the application may be configured to run ona single-tasking operating system.

The computing device must include an internal audio input and outputcircuit, commonly referred to as a “sound card” or an external USB sounddigitizing device. A microphone 12 is connected to the audio input. Thesound card converts digital information from the computer into audiosignals and digitizes audio signals received from the microphone intodata that can be manipulated by the microprocessor and other componentsof the computer. The computing device can also include a conventionalkeyboard 16 and mouse 14 allowing the user to input information in aconventional fashion. A video monitor 18 is provided for the display ofinformation by the computer.

Turning to basic window concepts, the present invention is concernedwith the “focus” of the operating system and with displaying andcontrolling online information including help information, Web pages,e-books and other information content to a user. At any given time, onewindow is designated as the “focus window”; any key press or key releaseevents for the display are sent to that window. A window is said to have“focus” when it is active and currently designated to receive the userinput from the keyboard, mouse, a voice recognition system, or otherinput device.

In a graphical user interface, a window displays the contents of files,whether that file contains Web pages, help information, e-books, orother information content. Windows can be opened full-screen or can besized and positioned anywhere on the desktop. A window can be open onthe desktop but its content can be partially or totally obscured byother windows also open on the desktop. A window can be open butpositioned off the computer's screen so that it is hidden from the user.Windows that are displayed adjacent to one another are referred to as“tiled windows.” If a computer user is working in, and has focus in, agraphical application window, that application is considered the “first”application. All other windows are considered “second” applications.

To understand the invention, it is necessary to know how voicerecognition systems distinguish commands from non-command words.Examples of commands are: “page down,” “go to top,” and “print that.”These command words (or phrases) are stored in command files. The speechengine reads its command files when it is opened and places the commandslisted in the command files into active memory, making these commands“active”, allowing the speech recognition engine to recognize thesecommands when spoken by a computer user. This is typical of the art. Toinstruct a voice recognition system to understand the invention's spokencommands, this invention modifies one or more of the speech recognitionengine's command files by adding the invention's own command words tothat of the speech engine's command list, which are then read by thespeech recognition engine. The invention sometimes refreshes thesecommand files during normal use.

Different speech engines and different versions of the same speechengine have various ways of storing commands and use different scriptingor programming languages. Other embodiments of this program will workwith speech engines through their own scripting languages or throughthird-party scripting languages. These scripting languages act as anintermediary between a commercial speech engine and a programminglanguage such as “C” or WinBatch, which are required for this invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a graphical application window 34 in acomputing window 32 in a computing environment 30. DragonNaturallySpeaking, a speech recognition engine, is open on the desktop.The microphone is on and active. The computer user, with input focus inthe application window, referred to as the “first” graphical applicationwindow, dictates a voice command. When the speech recognition enginerecognizes a voice command as an invention command, it passes thecommand to the invention's user command receiver 36 initiating theinvention's application manager 38. In the preferred embodiment, theapplication manager performs the following steps:

The application manager interprets the voice command and parses out thename of the graphical application window and parses out the specifiedfile name, if any.

The application manager identifies the graphical application windowhaving input focus 34, as the first graphical application window.

The application manager invokes the retriever 42, passing the retrieverthe parsed out graphical application window name and the parsed outspecified file name, if any. The retriever opens or reactivates thegraphical application window 44 and the specified file, if any. As thegraphical application window is opened, single threading operatingsystems such as Microsoft Windows will cause the first graphicalapplication window to lose focus.

The application manager waits for the graphical application window to beopened or reactivated.

The application manager invokes the focuser 40 passing the focuser thename of the first graphical application window and the focuserreactivates the said window. FIG. 4 illustrates that the focuserreturned input focus to the user's original cursor position in his/herfirst graphical application window 50.

The present invention offers significant advantages to prior artapproaches. Using this invention, any topic or subject in a help systemcan be accessed with a single voice command, whether or not the helpsystem is open. For example, to view help on formatting text, a userneed only say, “Formatting commands.” The Invention then executes theretrieval of the content specified by the spoken command, displays thecontent in a graphical application window adjacent to the user's firstapplication window as is illustrated in FIG. 5. The preferred embodimentallows the user to remain in productive control of his/her firstapplication window, automatically, with minimal interruption by theprocess of requesting and receiving the content. The computer user isable to view the content 54 and perform the instructions provided by thehelp 52 without having to remember to switch back to the first graphicalapplication window to return focus before proceeding.

FIG. 5 also illustrations an alternative embodiment where the resizerpositions and sizes the newly opened second application window 52 on thecomputer screen and resizes the first graphical application window 54 sothat neither graphical application window overlaps the other. Therelative positions and sizes of these two graphical application windowsare preset according to a set of rules. The mouse is returned to itsoriginal position 56.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment, showing a graphicalapplication window on the desktop. In this example and not by way oflimitation, the microphone 62 is on and active and the computer user,with input focus in his/her first graphical application window 64, witha speech recognition engine open, dictates a voice command to open a webpage. The result of the computer user's dictated voice command to open aweb page is illustrated in FIG. 7. The web page is displayed in thesecond graphical application window 72 adjacent to the first graphicalapplication window 74 so that neither graphical application windowoverlaps the other. In this alternative embodiment, all the links on theweb page are uniquely numbered by the invention 78. Further, theinvention also reformats the display of the text in the firstapplication window so that it is legible and not hidden 76.

Once a user has opened a second graphical application window as in FIG.7, said window displaying Internet Explorer, an HTML help system, oranother application compatible with the link following capabilities ofthe speech recognition engine being used, a computer user can follow thehyperlinks being displayed in the second graphical application window72. The computer user, with input focus in his/her first graphicalapplication window, dictates an invention command with the number of ahyperlink being displayed in the second graphical application window.For instance the user would dictate the command, “Web 9.”

When the speech recognition engine recognizes the command as aninvention command, it passes the command to the invention's user commandreceiver initiating the invention's application manager which parses outthe name of the hyperlink, “9”.

The application manager identifies the graphical application windowhaving input focus, in this example Microsoft Word, as the firstgraphical application window.

The application manager invokes the focuser specifying the secondgraphical application window, putting input focus in the saidapplication.

The application manager invokes the speech simulator, specifying thehyperlink name. The speech simulator sends the hyperlink name as adictated command, as if the computer user was speaking directly to thespeech recognition engine, causing the speech recognition engine tofollow the hyperlink.

The application manager delays execution for a brief time, allowing thespeech engine to initiate the following of the hyperlink.

The application manager invokes the focuser passing the focuser the nameof the first graphical application window and the focuser reactivatesthe said window. And, in an alternative embodiment, the applicationmanager returns the mouse pointer position to its position at the timethe invention was invoked and positions and sizes the newly openedsecond graphical application window on the computer screen and resizesthe first application window so that neither application window overlapsthe other. The relative positions and sizes of these two applicationwindows are preset according to a set of rules.

The application manager ends.

The previous embodiment provides another major advantage over prior art.Most current help systems provide HTML links to up-to-date helpinformation and to related topics. A user of the invention can followthese links from his/her first application window with voice commands.The information obtained will not obscure the user's working applicationas it does in all prior art systems.

In an alternative embodiment, a computer user, with input focus in thefirst graphical application window, FIG. 3, dictates a voice command.When the speech recognition engine recognizes a voice command as aninvention command, it passes the command to the invention's user commandreceiver 36 initiating the invention's application manager 38. In thisembodiment, the application manager performs the following steps:

The application manager identifies the application window having inputfocus as the first graphical application window 34, then identifies thesecond graphical window according to preset conditions.

The application manager invokes the retriever 42, passing the retrieverthe specified graphical application window. The retriever reactivatesthe specified graphical application window 44, giving it input focus.

The application manager invokes the pauser, wherein the pauser is presetto expire after a brief time.

The input focus stays in the specified graphical application windowallowing the computer user to issue voice commands to the applicationcontained in specified graphical window until the pauser expires.

For example, and not by way of limitation, the computer user can say aformatting command, hyperlink name, or cursor movement command.

The pauser expires, the application manager then invokes the focuser 40passing the focuser the name of the first graphical application windowand the focuser reactivates the said window. In a further embodiment andnot be way of limitation, if the computer user has followed a link toanother html page, the invention will resize and position the firstgraphical application window and the second graphical application windowsuch that neither window overlaps the other.

The above mentioned embodiments of this invention make it possible for acomputer user in a first graphical application window to open anothergraphical application window, size and position it next to the firstgraphical application window, allowing the user to view informationcontent without losing his/her input focus. A previous mentionedembodiment enables a user to follow hyperlinks on the Internet, in ahelp system, in an e-book or other html environment, while remaining inproductive control of the first graphical application window.

An alternative embodiment of this invention extends the usefulness ofthis invention by making it possible for a computer user to issue voicecommands to a second graphical application window and still remain inproductive control of the user's first graphical application window. Inthis embodiment, once a user has opened a second graphical applicationwindow containing an application capable of being controlled by voicecommands from a speech recognition engine, as in FIG. 7. The computeruser, with input focus in his/her first graphical application window,dictates an invention command.

When the speech recognition engine recognizes the command as aninvention command, it passes the command to the invention's user commandreceiver initiating the invention's application manager which parses outthe name of the voice command to be sent to the second graphicalapplication window.

The application manager identifies the graphical application windowhaving input focus, as the first graphical application window.

The application manager invokes the focuser specifying the secondgraphical application window, putting input focus in the saidapplication.

The application manager invokes the speech simulator, specifying thename of the voice command. The speech simulator sends the voice commandas a dictated command, as if the computer user was speaking directly tothe speech recognition engine, causing the speech recognition engine toinitiate the execution of the voice command.

The application manager delays execution for a brief time, allowing thespeech engine to initiate the execution of the voice command.

The application manager invokes the focuser passing the focuser the nameof the first graphical application window and the focuser reactivatesthe said window. The application manager ends.

Another aspect of the invention allows a user, in a first applicationwindow, to copy and paste specified text from a second graphicalapplication window. This system allows a user of the invention to usevoice commands to copy and paste text faster and easier and allows auser to copy text from any virtually any graphical application windowthat contains text and not just a voice enabled graphical window as dovoice recognition systems.

Once a user has opened a second graphical application window, thecomputer user, with input focus in his/her first graphical applicationwindow, dictates a command to initiate the copying of text.

When the speech recognition engine recognizes the command as aninvention command, it passes the command to the invention's user commandreceiver initiating the invention's application manager. The applicationmanager parses out the name of the voice command to be sent to thesecond graphical application window.

The application manager identifies the graphical application windowhaving input focus, as the first graphical application window.

The application manager invokes the focuser specifying the secondgraphical application window.

The application manager saves the computer's clipboard contents, clearsthe clipboard's contents, and invokes the copying unit. The copying unitdelays processing until the computer user selects text or cancels theprocess. Once text is selected, the copying unit copies the text intothe clipboard and closes.

The application manager invokes the focuser passing the focuser the nameof the first graphical application window and the focuser reactivatesthe said window.

The application manager then pastes the copied text into the firstgraphical application window and closes.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments,particularly any “described” embodiments, are merely possible examplesof implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of theprinciples of the invention. Many variations and modifications may bemade to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention withoutdeparting substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.All such modifications and variations are intended to be included hereinwithin the scope of this disclosure. The detail presented above is givenby way of illustration, not limitation. The invention should only belimited by the claims as set forth below.

1. A system for navigating the display of content in a windowedcomputing environment, the system comprising a computing devicecomprising: a voice recognition engine; a first window; a second window,wherein the second window comprises at least one hyperlink linked toadditional content; and a user command receiver for receiving a voicecommand from a user while the user is working in the first window, andin response to the voice command following the hyperlink in the secondwindow while the user remains in productive control of the first window,wherein following the hyperlink in the second window causes theadditional content to be displayed in the second window.
 2. The systemas recited in claim 1, wherein the second window comprises an Internetapplication window.
 3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein theadditional content comprises World Wide Web content.
 4. The system asrecited in claim 1, wherein the second window comprises a help systemwindow.
 5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the additionalcontent comprises help content.
 6. A method of navigating the display ofcontent in a windowed computing environment, the method comprising:opening a first window; opening a second window, wherein the secondwindow comprises at least one hyperlink linked to additional content;and receiving a voice command from a user while the user is working inthe first window, and in response to the voice command following thehyperlink in the second window while the user remains in productivecontrol of the first window, wherein following the hyperlink in thesecond window causes the additional content to be displayed in thesecond window.
 7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the secondwindow comprises an Internet application window.
 8. The method asrecited in claim 7, wherein the additional content comprises World WideWeb content.
 9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the secondwindow comprises a help system window.
 10. The method as recited inclaim 9, wherein the additional content comprises help content.
 11. Anon-transitory computer readable medium comprising code segments fornavigating the display of content in a windowed computing environment,the code segments for: receiving a voice command from a user while theuser is working in a first window, and in response to the voice commandfollowing a hyperlink in a second window while the user remains inproductive control of the first window, wherein following the hyperlinkin the second window causes additional content to be displayed in thesecond window.
 12. The non-transitory computer readable medium asrecited in claim 11, wherein the second window comprises an Internetapplication window.
 13. The non-transitory computer readable medium asrecited in claim 12, wherein the additional content comprises World WideWeb content.
 14. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recitedin claim 11, wherein the second window comprises a help system window.15. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 14,wherein the additional content comprises help content.